Hindu Community Hopes For Temple Approval From Chino Hills

Source: www.contracostatimes.com

CHINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA, February 5, 2010: A Hindu community here is closer to completing its religious center, but still has to overcome a city height restriction for the towers it wants to build as part of the temple. The BAPS — Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanastha — Hindu community of Chino Hills wants to begin construction on the temple, at the complex on Fairfield Ranch Road near the 71 Freeway, which is nearing completion.

The obstacle that has remained for the past few years has been the city construction height limit of 42 feet for the high-density residential zone where the temple would be located. Plans call for spires at a height of 78 feet, and the community has asked the city to change the height restriction on the zone.

Developers last week submitted an application for building the centerpiece of the complex, a 10,000-square-foot temple, or mandir - the term for a Hindu place of worship and prayer.

A hearing is expected within three to six months, said Kal Mistry, spokesman and volunteer for the BAPS community of Chino Hills.